Device for thawing locomotives



(No Model.)

D. M. BORNARTH.

DEVICE FORTHAWING LOCOMOTIVES.

Patented Sept. 16, 1884.

WITNEEE E5- W T wmmm Nrrn STATES PATENT Fries.

DEVICE FOR THAWING LOCOMOTIVES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 305,042, dated September 16, 1884.

Application filed Felnuaiy 14, 1894.

T0 aZZ whom it ma concern:

Be it known that I, DANIEL M, Bomvnnrrr, of Shakopee, 1n the county of Scott and State of Minnesota, have invented certain Improvements in Devices for Thawing Locomotives, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to apparatus for thawing out iceblockcd locomotives, and is designed, more particularly, for small way-stations, where special means for the purpose are chest, and other parts, and frost gets into thewheelsand mechanism, rendering it danger ous for the locomotive to be put to use, even if that be possible. I11 large stations and depots, in cold climates, there is generally a round-house furnished with a steam-generator and appliances for the special purpose of thawing out such locomotives; but, owing to the expense of such apparatus and the comparative infrequency of a demand therefor atsmall stations, such apparatus is not provided at such places. Much delayand'inconvenience arises from this cause, as well as great danger of accident, and to avoid such inconveniences,

. delay, and danger, I have devised the following plan: The locomotive, while not in operation, may still be employed to generate steam, which is carried througha pipe-provided with suitable couplings or connections into a steamcoil or radiator placed in the pit of a roundhouse or other convenient place, or which may even be above ground and close to each side of the track, so that when the locomotive is run to the point where the heater is located, connection may be quickly established between the locomotive-boiler and the heater, and the latter thus supplied with steam to thaw out the locomotive furnishing the steam; or one locomotive may furnish steam to thaw out another.

(No model.)

Referring now to the drawings, I will explain a preferred arrangement of the apparatus, remarking, however, that the details may be considerably varied, the essential feature being the supplying of steam to the heater from the locomotive.

A indicates a pit in a round-house or station, provided with a steam-radiator, B, which may be of convenient form or construction. At each side of the track and pit are hinged boards or guards C, of suitable width to reach to the top of the driving-wheels, or thereabout, and as long as, or somewhat longer than, thepit. These guardslieflat upon the ground floor of the round-house, ordinarily, but are designed to be turned up against the sides of the locomotive and tender, as in Figs. 1 and 2, when the thawing operation is to be performed, so as to direct the heat which is given off by the radiator B against the wheels, cyl in-ders, and reversing-gear oi the locomotive, and the trucks and lower part of the tender.

To apply steam to the radiator, which is represented as made of steampipes united by manifolds, the radiator is furnished with a supply-pipe, D, which may be permanently connected thereto, and is preferably made of flexible hose or tubing capable of withstanding a considerable pressure. If preferred, only a short length of flexible tubing or hose may be employed, a metal pipe being carried up to about the height of the steam-dome E of the locomotive I with which dome the pipe and radiator are to be put in communication. to be provided with a steam-outlet, G, having a half-coupling, a, and the flexible pipe D is furnished with the other part, b, of the coupling, so that connection may be quickly made. A cook or valve, H, in the outlet-pipe G is then opened to permit steam to pass in any desired quantity to the radiator or heater B. \Vhen the operation is completed, the valve H is closed, the coupling a I) disconnected, the guards'G turned down, and the locomotive is ready to move off.

The steam-dome of the locomotive is shown is deemed preferable. It will be seen that by this plan the necessity of a special steam-generator is obviated, as also the need of employing an'at-tendant therefor; the expense of maintaining a constant fire in such special generator, or the delay incident to starting such fire and getting up steam, is avoided, and equally good results are attained without any of these sources of expense or delay.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In combination with a locomotive and a steam-heater, substantially as shown and de scribed, to heat the mechanism of the locomotive, intermediate. connection, substantially such as described, for conveying steam' from the boiler of the locomotive to the heater.

2. The herein-described thawing apparatus for locomotives, consisting of a pit between the rails of the track, a steam-heater within said pit, guards adapted to direct the heat arising from said pit to the running-gear and mechanism of the locomotive, and a pipe communicating with the heater and with the locomotive-boiler to deliver the steam from the latter to the former.

3. The combination, substantially as shown and described, of a locomotive, F, having steam-outlet G, valve H, and coupling-section a, heater 13, provided with flexible pipe D, and

coupling-section b, substantially as and for the purpose explained. DANIEL M. BORNARTH.

Witnesses:

LoRIN GRAY, AUG. F. L. BORNARTH. 

